nzswanny
Although the special effects are a lot better in the new one, this one still succeeds in being the better film. Made on a small budget, this film/serial captures the tone and magnificence of the book perfectly, while the 2005 one, made on a much bigger budget, destroys the tone and magnificence of the book and instead focuses itself on being a blockbuster action movie with explosions every second. One big problem that changes the tone in the 2005 one is the soundtrack. Here, in this 1988 version, we get a magnificent, memorable soundtrack, composed by the great but unknown Geoffrey Burgon, who sadly passed away seven years ago. In the 2005 one, we get an unmemorable soundtrack that is over the top, clichéd, loud, blaring and annoying. They also overuse the soundtrack in the 2005 movie. There's basically a unmemorable, over the top, clichéd, loud, blaring, annoying song every two minutes in the 2005 one. This 1988 one, however, uses it's music carefully, not making the soundtrack over the top. You'll have to listen to it to understand, but it fits the tone perfectly, because it's wonderful and not clichéd, with a perfect volume.Another thing that this film is great at is pacing. The pacing was perfect, and so was the timing of the music. The music was played in the background at the right times, without making the scene over the top. There was also some character development in this version, believe it or not. The 2005 one, however, almost has close to none, and you don't really care for the characters because of it. In fact, I kind of wanted the White Witch to kill off the main characters in the 2005 one. In this version however, you'll see why the White Witch is so bad.I also love the subtle dark tone in this version. The other one tries to be dark, but fails miserably. You understand the pain and the suffering of the people in Narnia in this version, but in the 2005 version, the reason isn't cared about enough. Instead, the filmmakers of the 2005 one care about making big bucks at the box office by making ground breaking action scenes. Truth be told, the action scenes aren't very good in the 1988 one, but trust me, if you sit down and watch the 1988 one instead of complaining about the special effects and stuffing popcorn into your mouth, you'll love the film.Also, notice how this movie, the CHEAPER movie, feels more like an epic than the 2005 one does? IF you haven't seen this version yet, watch it, compare the two, and you'll see how by your own eyes. No explanation is needed for that once you see.Oh, and I LOVED the White Witch in this version! The 2005 one actually had a decent White Witch, but this one is by far, the best. So is the version of Lucy in this one, she is adorable, always smiles in this one and behaves exactly like the one in the book. The 2005 Lucy may as well be renamed, as her personality is completely different. I thought the actor for Lucy in the 2005 one wasn't too good at her job, either.To be honest, I liked the bad special effects in this version. It made a sort of tone to the movie that fitted the book that I can't describe. That may sound weird, but once you watch this, you should understand.Overall, if you prefer Michael Bay from Ingmar Bergman, go watch the 2005 one. If you prefer Ingmar Bergman, go watch this one. You will not regret it. I rate it a 9.9/10.
TheodenLives
After having read the "Chronicles of Narnia", I always hoped that a film or TV movie would be made capturing the story on screen. When this BBC version came out in the US in January of 1989, I couldn't believe how well it was done. The acting, the music, and the spirit of Narnia were all there and on-target. Of course, Aslan is a mechanical lion, of course, some of the fantastic beasts were animated instead of computer-generated, but the movie still transported me to Narnia, because it had distilled just enough of the magic of C.S. Lewis' work to make it all work. I'm sorry, but if you criticize this film on it's special effects alone, then you are sadly missing a wonderful story. These days, even if there is NO story, films can make hundreds of millions of dollars on computer-generated effects alone. But capturing the spirit of a great work like this doesn't rely on much more than the grand story Lewis intended. Read the books and see if you don't agree that this version is warmer and more heartfelt.
dianekrebs
This is one of the finest children's shows I've seen (and wonderful for adults too). I felt as if I were part of this exquisite movie and when it was over, I was so immersed and hardly realized where I was. The children are perfect - Lucy especially. And the excellent diction of all the characters makes this British movie very clear and understandable by those of us in the US who don't appreciate the beauty of the language because we don't understand the words properly spoken. The show also gives a beautiful example for our children and grandchildren. They can see that the children in this movie are often tempted just as they are, and that they are imperfect. Yet they see that they are forgiven, still loved despite their mistakes. And they present a very close, caring family even though they have differences of opinion. This is part of what makes it so special. This movie, if we watch it with the children, is an opportunity to discuss values and goals we have for them and to bring out what C.S. Lewis has so cleverly done with the story. I can't say that there were no flaws at all, but I was very disappointed in the 2005 version after this one. That version made me feel as if I were outside of the story, looking at it as one might look at a piece of art. Here I was part of the story and I really want to share it with others. It's something to watch over and over and always see something more in it. The music, too, although sparingly used, fit the scenes so well. It was beautifully done. This is a definite 10, in my estimation.
annabaker13
Even though The 'so called' new - brilliant-wonderful-exciting film of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe has come out on DVD and has probably got quite a few votes and fans- I still say, the original will always be a winner- because for one most of the original stuck to the actual book, and didn't try to cheat. The witch in the new film is not angry enough as the other witch in the original. The wolfs didn't speak either in the original film as well. And I also don't think we wanted to see London being bombed down- as that didn't happen in the original. Also they used ordinary actors- not flashy ones who think they can out do the best, and the original film. I apologise to those who love the new film- i do love it its just that I wish they wouldn't try and out do the original- because that will be forgotten.
